Chapter 34.
The Fourth Circle
In the completely empty circle, mana filled even faster.
This meant that exhausting the mana had gone entirely according to plan.
However…
“Are you awake?”
I hadn’t expected Siruela to be beside me when I opened my eyes.
“You’ve been out for two full days. Are you okay?”
“…A little uncomfortable.”
“It’s not because of me, right?”
“You’ve got good instincts, Captain.”
Siruela chuckled at my words.
“You did well. Thanks to you, we got through this winter without a single casualty.”
“That’s because you trusted me. But… why are you here, Captain?”
“Your performance is impressive. I can’t deny that.”
“Th-thank… you?”
“But it’s still too early.”
Siruela’s smile faded, replaced by a firm expression.
“We’re short on personnel, our combat power is insufficient, and above all, the only real mage here cannot cast high-level magic.”
She was correct.
We lacked everything needed to defeat Vivriont.
It was true that, having died once, it would be weaker than before, but even considering that, it was still a dragon.
Moreover, it had been a “disaster” before and still was one now.
A “disaster” is the root of monsters.
A being that either summons unknown monsters or creates them itself.
That is what is called a “disaster.”
We didn’t have enough personnel to break through to Vivriont.
Our combat power was insufficient to fight Vivriont.
And most critically, we lacked the firepower to completely defeat it.
In short, there was no high-level magic.
Siruela understood this perfectly.
In a way, it was natural.
Elios Spelder, our predecessor, was the youngest mage to reach the 5th circle.
Naturally, he would have been able to use high-level magic, and it was highly likely he used it to defeat Vivriont.
Therefore, as a living witness, Siruela would know better than anyone the necessity of high-level magic.
“…You hit the mark,” I said.
“Because I’m the captain.”
Siruela stood up smoothly from her seat.
“We must prepare thoroughly for the hunt.”
“…!”
With that, Siruela left without looking back.
As she left the room, it seemed like the shadow of a massive tree loomed behind her.
“Vice-captain!”
No, an enormous shadow actually stormed into the room.
“Vice-captain!”
“Stop! You’ll crush the bed!”
Hog froze mid-charge at my words.
His eyes looked ready to cry, but a smile twitched at the corner of his mouth.
“Thanks for worrying, but I’m fine, so calm down.”
“Yes, sir!”
Through Hog’s enthusiastic reporting, I learned what had happened while I’d been out for two days.
The Ice Rock soldiers had repaired the damaged fortress walls.
The damage from the magic unit’s spells had been greater than that caused by the Snow Worms.
Yet the combat troops had willingly volunteered for the repair work.
“Why?”
“They acknowledged the archers and potions of the magic unit,” Hog said with a grin.
“So it’s all repaired now?”
“Nope. Already done.”
“Already?”
“It wasn’t too badly damaged anyway.”
“True.”
“Anyway, now that you’re awake, Captain, we should let you know…”
“No, no.”
I waved him off, cutting him off.
“I’ll rest a little longer. Don’t go spreading it around the neighborhood.”
“Y-yes! Understood, sir!”
“All right. Then keep anyone else from coming in here.”
“Yes, sir!”
Hog left without asking any more questions.
I watched him stand guard at the door like a stately official.
Not even the bitter wind blowing outside could penetrate the shadow cast by his massive frame.
He was a solid, reliable shield.
“Then…”
I dug through my pockets.
A stone that shimmered red.
A mana crystal obtained from hunting an Ecopang.
In addition, mana rapidly absorbed using the backlash from mana depletion.
The previously empty circle was now full of mana, and a considerable amount had accumulated within my body.
With this much mana…
“…Shall we begin?”
I could form a 4th circle.
Spring had arrived.
It was time for the annual inspection.
Marken, the inspector of the Ice Rock Guard, swaggered out.
“Are you ready?”
“Yes, Inspector. All the supplies you mentioned have been loaded.”
The soldiers bowed respectfully as they reported. Marken nodded and surveyed the carriages lined up behind them.
The number of carriages had been halved compared to the last inspection.
Last year, eight carriages were sent.
This time, only four carriages.
And one of those wasn’t even fully loaded.
“Is… this really enough? It still seems insufficient?!”
A soldier cautiously asked, only for Marken’s fist to crash into his face.
The soldier collapsed in a pool of blood.
“How dare you… question the Captain’s judgment?!”
“N-no, it’s not like that… I-I’m sorry!”
Marken growled, and the soldier immediately buried his head in apology.
“Didn’t we send three extra carriages of supplies last winter? So even if this is a little less, it’s not a problem! Do you understand?! Don’t ask unnecessary questions—just do as you’re told!”
“Y-yes! Sorry!”
“Tch.”
Marken clicked his tongue, watching the soldier scurry away.
The other soldiers clamped their mouths shut.
It was obvious that the supplies were insufficient.
Even for those who survived last winter, the quantity was lacking, and this time there were new recruits as well.
Yet Cedric had ordered that the supplies be reduced.
“‘They are things to be disposed of soon. But until then, they must hold off the Snow Worms.’”
Disposed of soon… what does that mean?
Marken didn’t understand the order, but it didn’t matter to him.
What mattered was to serve Cedric Icemaaker faithfully, do well, and survive.
He would follow orders without question.
In the ice-cold atmosphere,
“Inspector Marken!”
A coachman approached Marken with a warm smile.
“Oh, Dyke. How have you been?”
“Good, thanks to your attention, Inspector.”
“You handled the carriages well yourself, that’s all. Such humility.”
“Oh, no, Inspector. Without you, I’d have starved by now. Thank you for calling on me again. So, even if modestly…”
Dyke smiled faintly and gently tugged the reins.
A sleek white horse approached, snorting lightly.
It looked to be in excellent condition.
“I prepared a gift for you.”
“Oh, we really don’t have to…”
“Because we are on good terms, Inspector. Aren’t we bound by words?”
“That’s true! Hahaha!”
Marken laughed heartily and took the reins.
When escaping from the fortress previously, Marken had lost his horse and had to ride in Dyke’s carriage.
So although the number of carriages had decreased, Dyke still got work.
Of course, Dyke had also occasionally slipped something into Marken’s pocket.
Dyke whispered in Marken’s ear with a sly smile.
“It’s an Andalusian… a very popular breed in the southern continent.”
“Oh? Well, thank you!”
Marken tugged sharply on the reins. The white horse shook its head but reluctantly stepped forward.
Marken patted its neck and smiled in satisfaction.
“Good!”
He leapt into the saddle.
“Let’s go!”
Marken led the convoy of supply carriages out of the Ice Rock Guard fortress.
The snow-covered roads stretched on for some time.
Occasionally, the howls of starving beasts echoed, but there were no direct threats.
After a day and a half of travel,
“This is the Guardian Fortress!”
Finally, the walls of the fortress came into view.
“No smoke this time.”
“Indeed. Seems like there aren’t as many casualties as last time.”
Marken snorted.
“Better that there were many casualties than them fighting over supplies. Isn’t that better?”
“Agreed.”
They chuckled and moved forward.
By midday,
“I’m Inspector Marken, here to deliver supplies from the territory!”
Marken shouted loudly in front of the tightly shut fortress gates.
“Open the gates!”
“Who is it?”
Heads popped out from the walls, and one asked in a careless voice.
Marken clicked his tongue and shouted again.
“Inspector Marken!”
“Marken?”
“What’s an inspector?”
“What are you all doing? Open the gates now…!”
While Marken yelled at the soldiers talking amongst themselves, the gates creaked open.
Standing there was Gardner, who had been in the same mercenary group before.
“Sorry,” Gardner said with a chuckle.
“They’re new, so they didn’t recognize you. I apologize on their behalf.”
“The discipline has gotten slack, Gardner! Can they really stop the Snow Worms like this?!”
“Understand that they’re new. They haven’t even spent a year here.”
“In that case, my neck might be next before I leave. Better warn them.”
“Understood. I’ll make it clear. Now, let them in.”
Marken growled, but Gardner smiled calmly.
Marken didn’t like it.
Even inside, Marken continued scolding Gardner.
“You survived again? I thought you’d be dead.”
“Thanks to the supplies you sent.”
“Sorry, this time the supplies are a little less. The territory’s resources are limited, understand?”
“Can’t be helped. Grateful for whatever you sent.”
“By the way, did you burn the corpses? Fewer died than last time?”
“No.”
Gardner looked back, sneering.
“Not a single one died.”
“…What?”
The horse stomped as Marken yanked on the reins.
Once calmed, Marken asked again.
“What did you say just now?”
“Not a single one died.”
“You’re saying… not a single one died and the flood was… stopped?!”
Marken blinked, stammering. Gardner only smiled wider.
“Yes.”
“Nonsense! How…?!”
“Didn’t Captain Gardner say earlier?”
Shadows approached from the side.
Marken turned and saw familiar faces.
“Y-you…!”
“It’s an honor to meet you again, Inspector Marken.”
A blond boy smiled subtly and greeted him with exaggerated gestures.
“Esric Spelder!”
“You even remembered my name. I’m at a loss.”
“And you… impostor royal!”
“…Ronan.”
“And I am Hog.”
Three of the new recruits who had survived the last flood.
Of them, the one who drew Cedric’s attention the most was Esric Spelder.
The one who took the place of the former magic unit captain, Barnard.
Marken was certain he was hiding something.
“You all were lucky. Considering you’re still alive…”
“Like Captain Gardner said earlier, it’s thanks to the supplies sent by you, Inspector.”
“…What?”
“They were really useful.”
“You… don’t tell me…!”
Marken finally remembered the mana crystals he had failed to retrieve last winter.
They should have been delivered to Barnard.
…This brat took them?!
Esric grinned at Marken, showing his teeth.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what you do this time.”
